SIMMOD'S DIOPTERS - Do you even know what's a diopter?

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SIMMOD has released two sets of diopters which are likely to replace all my other diopters. In this video I'll talk about what these do, the math involved, and introduce you to a new (old) calculator
SIMMOD Lens' Shop
www.simmodlens.com/filters
Diopter Calculator
www.tferradans.com/anacalc

[@MudbloodWizard]

Tito! Your audio improved so much! It's just even more easy to listen to you now hahahah. So glad that Simmod entered the diopter market which I always felt like it's not being explored so much despite the boom of anamorphic lenses.

[@AnamorphicOnABudget]

Thank you Jeffrey! I took notes from the last few videos criticizing the audio and made changes! :)

[@JoATTech]

@@AnamorphicOnABudget At last :D.

[@xcvd2534]

@@AnamorphicOnABudget Sounds like you might be giving the Adobe AI audio tool a try... maybe?

[@AnamorphicOnABudget]

@@xcvd2534 yep i am

[@xcvd2534]

@@AnamorphicOnABudget I found doing a blend of a processed version of the raw audio with the AI generated one helps to mask some of the AI "weirdness" that occasionally pushes through

[@NerdSnipingBatman]

I love the way you teach. I'm not into film making.. just photography, but your explanations of lenses and how they work optically has been awesome. I wish you could do a different series just for us photographers. I learn so much already

[@sunnynaguri]

Beautifully explained. Thanks Tito. I've been using diopters for a while but did not know the math. This helps a lot.

[@nicholassheffo5723]

Yes!!!! These need to make a big comeback and there is so much more to say about them. These Simmod versions look incredible and best fo all, many people have seen diopters in action in many anamorphic scope films (the early STAR TREK films, films from Scorsese, etc.) so it is a highly under-discussed topic. Thanks for the warning of the cheaper ones and oh... awesome cat!

[@spooky_leftist]

Just saw a video from Arri on their magnetic, snap-on, behind the lens diopters for the Signature primes. They come in positive and negative powers. The idea in that video seemed more for de-tuning effects to mimic early 20th century lens characteristics, but I imagine a negative diopter might provide more clarity at infinity if your subject is further away.

[@NoSuRReNDeR001]

Another GREAT video ! thank you sir

[@alanbesedin]

great video. thank you for sharing!

[@ODHunte]

Nice video. The circular ones seem interesting as I was looking at these recently and there only seemed to be the super cheap ones or the ultra expensive. Thumbs up for the awareness 👍🏿

[@IvanGarcia-vt4wx]

Great video, thanks. 🤙🏽

[@JoATTech]

Thanks for explaining, saved me 1h+ of research .... Mr Industry Expert :D

[@MarcoAries]

Diopters are a pretty neat tool, although, as you said, not many people know about them. I was about to make a video about them myself, but I guess I don't need to anymore ;)

[@user-jp9js9th8o]

fine recommendations - I only use achromatic diopters, also with lower power: the optics performance across the entire field of view is much better... the main problem: they mostly are only available starting from +2 .. so you have to look for vintage pieces, which then have only minimal coating....

[@kingpossie]

I have the fabled TOKINA +0.5 Achromat 72mm - it’s a heavy MF of a diopter used mainly for an Isco 36. These new offerings are much welcomed by me - the 95mm Vivitar diopter set i would call hardly passable.

[@steveschnetzler5471]

I have a few cheap diopter sets that I never think to use. I have a Siriu 24mm 1.33x MFT lens with a .6m close focus and a Sirui 1.6x FF lens with a .8m close focus so I have not really felt the need for diopters on those. Yes, they are quite budget lenses.

[@OliKember]

Really cool overview! I didn’t realise the 0.5 took two tray spaces. That’s a shame as it doesn’t need to. Revar Cine and Lindsay use one tray slot for their +0.5. Lindsey even gets their +1 into one tray slot. Probably helped keep the manufacturing costs down though, so that’s the trade off in the price!

[@robertpdavenportii2908]

These look like great tools, I use a 4 x 4 matte box so I will have to rely on screw mounting and step down rings. I will invest in a set to replace my current lower quality kit. Thanks for letting me know these exist. 😊

[@AnamorphicOnABudget]

You can get Simmod's screw tray, which I believe fits 4x4 slots, and has 95mm threads so you can add screw filters to a mattebox!

[@dpc4548]

The SLR Magic diopters have been a god send! The same as the Rangefinder. The quality is fantastic! These Simmod ones look great for matte boxes, but not enough to replace the great stuff some of us already have. Plus, knowing Simmod's crazy pricing (seriously!), I doubt they'll be worth it.

[@MojoPapiFPV]

Can you talk about why not extension tubes?

[@johndoane7200]

Maybe a video on how various diopters effect flairs, streak, veiling, ghosting?

[@AnamorphicOnABudget]

This is an excellent suggestion! I shall start working on that!

[@MrSwsw2]

And maybe one more video about how to make variable diopters using this high quality glass?)

[@AnamorphicOnABudget]

@@MrSwsw2 Not a doable thing. Vari diopters require negative diopters (which don't readily exist for film) and specific spacings. It's beyond my league.

[@slipoch6635]

Great video as always man, thanks for this. I was looking at some diopters like this from another provider (Lindsay optics) but recently switched to EF mount so need to find some decent (and cheap) anamorphic glass I can justify for a hobby ;).

[@FlyingJackalope]

I rented a lindsey a while back and those really need special matte boxes because of the round bottom.

[@slipoch6635]

@@FlyingJackalope My Mattebox is a cheap one that allows it through at the bottom so shouldn't be a problem (although width may be). How did you find it for quality?

[@zo.mp4]

Somewhat unrelated but I've been looking for vintage lenses that give some abberations bc i like the look, and I think using a diopter for this purpose would work out pretty well

[@zfarahx]

Exactly what I'm going for in an upcoming shoot.

[@capodicasa]

Hi, I find your channel very cool and I always learn very interesting things. What make and model of Matte Box are you using in the video where you demonstrate using two filter slots?

[@AnamorphicOnABudget]

Thank you! I'm using the SmallRig Arcane.

[@SomewhatAbnormal]

My thoughts on Simod’s diopters is that I can still only afford my Vivitars. Good explanation of diopters nonetheless.

[@clizzaudio]

nice stuff. wondering what lens you used to film this video? Cheers :)

[@AnamorphicOnABudget]

I used the Dulens MiniPrime 58mm coupled with the new Iscorama 54CU and Simmod's +0.5 diopter.

[@JoATTech]

Can you remove 95mm version from the frame? So it's then compatible with Tilta Mirages circular frames?

[@AnamorphicOnABudget]

I don't think you can.

[@dfilms241]

Nice

[@casperbengtsson459]

Did you use the Helios for your talking shots? 7:29

[@AnamorphicOnABudget]

Close enough. I used a Dulens MiniPrime 58mm and Iscorama 54. The dulens is inspired by the Helios 44.

[@FlyingJackalope]

Which one did you use in this video for your talking head?

[@AnamorphicOnABudget]

The +0.5 95mm.

[@burnspete]

Hi, just a quick question. Can the Simmod 95mm thread diopter be use with a clamp on matte box? If so, do you recall the diopter outside a diameter? Cheers Pete

[@AnamorphicOnABudget]

Unfortunately I can't answer either of your questions! But I'm sure Ron at Simmod can give you the info you seek in a heartbeat! :)

[@RoesMeister]

Nothing quite like it... Ib/e wants a word they been selling filter size diopters for few years now. Really good really expensive.

[@janscott602]

I use the Vivitar 2x on a Sirui Saturn and the results are fine. Moving up to a pro diopter along with a pro matte box is not worth it for me.

[@AnamorphicOnABudget]

Yeah, if you're using a Saturn, your goal is to stay light, so that makes sense. Different tools for different jobs.

[@walmartpimp2]

So the +1 diopter on a lens that's focal ring is set to infinity will allow that lens to have everything at the one meter mark in focus, but anything before and after will be out of focus? As for the +1/2, everything at two meters will be in focus, but before and after out of focus. If this is the case is there anything that changes the focal range. I need for something at two feet to six feet to be in focus on a 35mm lens. Any input you have would be greatly apprectiated.

[@AnamorphicOnABudget]

Heya! A +0.5 diopter will probably give you that range. +0.5 will place infinity at roughly six feet and you can use the focus ring to rack closer! You can use my calculator to input your lens' original minimum focus and learn what it will become once you use a diopter. www.tferradans.com/anacalc/go No diopter will not give you "everything in focus" between certain distances. It is good for redefining infinity and achieving closer focus than your lens is naturally capable of.

[@walmartpimp2]

@@AnamorphicOnABudget used your advice on my shoot today, thanks.

[@jimmoss9584]

So, how do these compare with SLR's?

[@AnamorphicOnABudget]

SLR Magic's? These are miles ahead in terms of quality and - especially - usability.

[@jimmoss9584]

They seem to be vaporware. I don't see them on the web.

[@RawFiVideos]

I'm sorry but I'm not sure I've grasped the benefit of diopters, what's the point in reducing infinity to 1 or 2 meters ? I thought that the main feature was to allow minimum focus distance, but your formulas don't tell how much we gain in min focus distance ... it just tell us about its drawback (the reduced infinity distance). For instance I have a lens that has a 70cm focus distance, and I like to reduce it to 30cm, which diopter should I use ? Thanks

[@AnamorphicOnABudget]

The benefit most people overlook is bringing up more character out of your lenses. For min focus distance you can use the calculator, like I said in the video: www.tferradans.com/anacalc And, to make it easier, to shorten mins from 70cm to 30cm, you need a +1.9.

[@toneohm]

I need one for my Vazen 40mm asap

[@kartanosaka]

If I am not mistaken here, the audio in this video was edited (at least partially) with the Adobe Podcast AI Tool. It really could be, that I am wrong here, as this is just a guess. While I don't like the results, I appreciate the effort. I'd wish for the future videos, to not only look great, but sound pleasing as well.

[@AnamorphicOnABudget]

Thanks! What makes you think of the Adobe Podcast tool?

[@kartanosaka]

@@AnamorphicOnABudget The sound characteristic for sure. The audio in this video sounded kind of "artificial" and compressed, with a somewhat noticable noise gate and deesser. Typically the EQ of the Adobe Podcast AI Tool leans heavily into boosting the bass-response of male voices, which is something I think I observed. Many people seem to like it, but for me personally I think it's a bit much. It could be that it improves the sound drastically for phone speakers, but with headphones it might be quite the opposite. Sadly I can't take a look under the hood of the Podcast Tool, so I am only guessing on how it works. If you feed the tool some perfectly fine, well recorded audio, it comes out sounding kinda brittle, robotic and low-bitrate-y. Maybe they tuned it, since the time I last tested the tool? If I am not mistaken, Bandrew from Podcastage has a really comprehensive video about the Adobe Podcast AI Tool. Might be something you could be interested in. Welp, in any case I really appreciate, that you try to do something with your audio. It really came a long way since your start!

[@TheeManWIthNoLife]

Vivitar used to make great lenses! Now they make doo doo!

[@BillPutnamPhoto]

Appreciate this one, man. If you set the scope to infinity, and put +1 diopter on, everything from the diopter to 1 meter* will be in focus? *I'm American and want to Make America Metric Already.

[@AnamorphicOnABudget]

Hahaha, good one. Answering the question, no. Just whatever is at 1m will be in focus, anything closer, or further will be out of focus. Depending on your lens, you can rack to closer, but a +1 diopter limits your infinity at 1m.

[@BillPutnamPhoto]

@@AnamorphicOnABudget But you do put the scope at infinity* right? *my car is set to metric. Which makes things interesting when i'm driving on a freeway.

[@averykevans6894]

Did you also find pretty vicious pincushion from them?

[@AnamorphicOnABudget]

I did not, at least on any reasonable use scenario. If you put them on a super wide lens, that's not gonna work great, but that's true for all diopters - like the section at 1:59. There's some distortion, but not that much, and mostly because I'm using the whole thing wrong. hahaha

[@simmodlens2484]

Tito said it best: using a wide lens with a high power diopter is like using your reading glasses to drive a vehicle. You’re going to get unwanted compression and visuals that are not appealing. The accusation made towards our diopters being unusable because of pincussioning is wrong and the “fast and dirty” test performed by the user who made these accusations is inconclusive- almost damaging to a brand, simply due to users inability to understand how a tool should be used.

[@averykevans6894]

@@simmodlens2484 I gotcha that definitely makes sense

[@kurtnelle]

Kewl. So the only problem I have left to address is lack cheese to afford these.

[@AnamorphicOnABudget]

TRUEE 🧀🧀🧀🧀🧀

[@simmodlens2484]

USE PROMO CODE: TITO to recieve 10% off. Code expires June 1, 2023 and will not be retroactive or re-activated after this date.

[@superbmediacontentcreator]

I'm poor, I can only afford the cheap Vivitar set... pray for me...

[@sledgeforcefilms8818]

$400!!!! Jesús christ!

[@davidlovephotog2]

You lost me at math

[@AnamorphicOnABudget]

It's important if you wanna do camera and light things better. :)